by Patrick Newman (Jan 2, 2009)

Ichiro has started his MLB career with eight straight 200-hit seasons, tieing Willie Keeler's
century-old mark for most consecutive 200 hit seasons. Ichiro has also
surpassed 3000 hits in his NPB/MLB career and needs three more to
surpass Isao Harimoto's record for Japanese players (3085).

9. Daijiro Ohishi keys surprising Orix turnaround
Orix was 21-28 when manager Terry Collins quit on May 21. Ohishi took
over and led the team to a 2nd place finish with a 75-68-1, including a
55-40-1 mark while he was at the helm.

8. Kazuhiro Kiyohara RetiresKiyohara
finally succombed to injuries after being in the national baseball
spotlight since the early 80's, first as a high school star, then as a
22-year NPB veteran.

7. Hideo Nomo Retires
MLB pioneer retired in June after being released from the KC Royals and
failing to hook on with another team. He was last seen coaching for the
Orix Buffaloes in the team's fall camp.

6. Junichi Tazawa signs with Boston
Tazawa became the first consensus first-round draft pick to forgo professional baseball in Japan for a career in America.

5. Bobby Valentine and Chiba Lotte agree to part ways after the 2009 season
After a series of disagreements, Bobby V and Chiba Lotte agreed not to
renew the manager's contract beyond 2009. Bobby took the Marines from
being a perennial doormat to being a perennial contender, while also
serving as one of the top advocates for Japanese baseball.

4. Hisashi Iwakuma edges Yu Darvish for the Sawamura
Iwakuma won 21 games for the also-ran Rakuten Eagles to take his first
Sawamura Award & Pacific League MVP. Darvish was more dominant by
some measures but had to settle for second best in '08.

3. Seibu beats Yomiuri for Japan Series Title
In a return to form for both teams, the Lions beat out the Giants in a
closely fought, 7-game Japan Series. Seibu remarkably won the Series
just two years after losing ace Daisuke Matsuzaka to the Red Sox.

2. Team Japan Disappoints in the Olympics
Japan's NPB star-studded team couldn't beat Korea, Cuba, or the USA and
finished out of the medals for the first time since the 2000 games in
Sydney. The performance led to Senichi Hoshino's departure as the Japan National Team manager.

1. Sadaharu Oh Retires from Field Duties
Oh retired as field manager of the Fukuoka Daiei/SoftBank Hawks after
14 years on the job. Oh led the Hawks to Japan Series titles in 1999
and 2003, and a Japan Series appearance in 2000. Oh will remain with
the Hawks in a front office capacity.

Honorable mentions: So Taguchi becomes the latest NPB vet to win a World Series Ring; 2008 crop of Japanese MLB imports mostly disappoint; Hiroki Kuroda thows a gem against the Braves; Hisayoshi Chono refuses to sign with the Chiba Lotte Marines in the hopes of being drafted by the Giants